by Wilson J Hormeguera

Consistent with XU’s Ruby Jubilee theme, “Forming Leaders the Ateneo Way,” the Ateneo Campus Leadership Discovery (ACLD) and Xavier Engaged and Experienced Leadership (XEEL) programs once again gathered first year and second year student leaders for skills training and formation sessions underscoring the values and principles of Xavier Leadership. ACLD and XEEL are curriculum-based social leadership formation programs under the Freshmen Formation Program (FFP) and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) respectively. They are coordinated by Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana – Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO).

ACLD is a leadership enrichment program that allows freshmen leaders to know leadership through understanding of one’s self, commitment for service through volunteerism, and appreciation of Ignatian Leadership as a means of molding leaders.  Being the first of the four-year social leadership tracks of KKP-SIO, ACLD hopes to develop leaders who are conscious of the social realities of the world, generously responding to its challenges in the Ignatian-Atenean Way.  The “ACLD Encounters,” the ACLD formation session for freshmen leaders, was held on September 1, 2013 and was participated in by 63 freshmen student leaders from different FFP sections.

The Xavier Engaged and Experienced Leadership (XEEL) Program is an enrichment skills training and leadership formation program that offers NSTP student leaders more opportunities for skills enhancement and leadership formation through community involvement and service.  XEEL seeks to capacitate NSTP leaders in helping facilitate the civic formation of their fellow students both in the classroom and in the communities.

“aXEELmbly,” the first XEEL skills training and formation session, was held on Aug 26, and was participated in by 177 sophomore student leaders from different NSTP sections. It focused on facilitation and group handling skills incorporating the Ignatian 1stPrinciple and Foundation and Servant Leadership.   This was followed by “eXEELence”, the second XEEL skills training and formation session on Sept 15, and was attended by 96 NSTP student leaders. It focused on Management and Advocacy. Unlike ACLD which is given only in a semester, XEEL is a whole year certificate program with four skills training and leadership formation sessions.